Atheists often cringe at the use of the words “spiritual” and “soul.” They evoke images of a physical spirit linked to a “higher power.”
But I am an atheist and, I like to think, quit spiritual.
I don’t believe in the Christian or mystical notion of having a soul that lives on after we die, receiving punishment or reward or floating mysteriously through space and time.
But I do know the feelings that people are trying to describe when they talk about their soul. It’s the very thing that makes you feel alive, feels wondrous, full of light and energy. It brings a sense of belonging, of love and a deep seated feeling of safety.
There is a reason that religion has spread like a murky cloud over the ages. In religion and spirituality people are trying to get at the same thing, the same feeling. This is what had me flirting with the idea of pantheism years ago, all religions are trying to make the same point… so are they all right?
But in religion, flaws are easy to find. Religion and mysticism provide easy answers as well as bigotry and violence. What ended up working for me was not pantheism but logic and reasoning, to look at what is behind the belief in gods.
When I was a young my parents took me to church. Once in awhile during a sermon I would feel alive, healed. I felt a life force inside of myself that seemed greater than anything. This feeling is what makes religion very real and what keeps believers faithful. What I felt was a deep feeling inside of strength and power. Like everything was going to be alright, that I had everything I would ever need just inside of me.
This feeling is still inside of me and it is stronger than ever, I can access this pleasant and affirming feeling whenever I want. Why? Because it is mine. It is my own strength and my own courage. It is that deep source of love inside that so many people call “God.” It is the capacity of love for yourself and love for others. This is based on your relationship with yourself, not with God.
It is liberating to realize that this feeling is mine, that I am powerful, courageous, full of light. It is also empowering to not project this feeling onto nature, the universe or a “higher power” and still yet to understand every human feels this, and in many ways we are all connected.
To me the soul is that place inside that is whole.
Where I think religious people fail is that they don’t take the reins in their own lives. God is in the driver’s seat and they just sit back, sure of a pre-determined plan. Atheists who aren’t spiritual I think could be missing out as well if they are not connecting to their “souls”. Jesus or the stars can’t heal you, only you can heal you.
Just because god doesn’t exist doesn’t mean the psychological basis for god doesn’t exist as well. Skepticism isn’t enough when it comes to god, you also need to address the hidden longing behind the psychological need to invent a god in the first place. God is a personal journey. The strength and wisdom in all of us is enough.
8 Comments
Amazing post.
It’s always encouraging to discover that a friend came to the same conclusions after similar thoughts and struggles.
I’m an atheist and I’ve never been afraid of words like “spirituality” and “higher power.” Like you, I realized that what most people get out of religion, I can get on my own, I don’t need religion to have faith in myself, to feel like I have a purpose, etc.. So while I think it’s good that people who need that extra boost have something to turn to, I actually feel like I’m a stronger person because I don’t need religion.
.-= SassyGirl´s last blog ..Two types of girls =-.
Thank you for the beautiful and insightful post.
Another incredible article. You are one of the voices of the future we dream of, Rabbit!
What an awesome post. I tend to agree with you on a lot of what you’ve said. I feel so much more powerful all of a sudden. It’s cheered up my grumpy evening immensely, in fact. Thank you.
Also, I _love_ the picture you’ve used. Is it you?
Ive been strugglng trying to figure out what it is that i believe in… your article helped me so much because it made it ok to be who I am and I think the only struggle I had was growing up in a christian home and that life being incongruous with who I am. Thanks Liv
You aught to read (or listen to) Sam Harris. He’s really in to finding more about spirituality, separate from religion (to the annoyance of his contemporaries).
When you look at the stars and the constellations.. and the moon, do you ever wonder why they are there? We are so inferior and so small compared to the whole universe, but we are significant. We are alive. We have a purpose on this earth. Most of us are still trying to find that purpose. We had no decision in the body that we were given, yet we were given one.
The very miracle of the five senses is mindblowing. We have a force, a right that allows us to breathe in and out. We don’t choose when we are born or when we die, no matter how hard we try.
We can move our limbs with ease and speak inside our minds and out. We have the priveledge to love.
I know you consider yourself to be an atheist, but consider these things I have said.
Why are you here?
Why do you exist?
Why are you given another day?
When you look at the morning sunrise, do you ever wonder if that sunrise was made for your enjoyment. When you see simple smiles of loved ones in life or hold a baby, do you ever have a sense of thankfulness. Thankful for life.
I give my thanks to the creator. Who created you and me and everyone else.
I am a christian, but that is not my ‘label’. Please consider this. I do believe that there is a God and I have a spiritual connection with him through Jesus. Please know that I am not ‘preaching’ to you. I am writing to you this, because I have the assurance of heaven when I die. I do not fear death. When I have hard moments in life, I know I can go to the source.. I can tell it to the Lord and he helps me. He has changed my life. I know I may be small and inferior, but that makes me humble. He loves me for who I am and I love him. I tell him my worries, my doubts, my fears, my sins. He wipes them away. I am that much stronger. I am happy.
Forget ‘therapy’. Forget any trending self-help fad. I am telling you my relationship with Jesus works.
Thanks,
Jessica England
jessicarengland@gmail.com
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[...] Finding Spirituality in Atheism “But I do know the feelings that people are trying to describe when they talk about their soul. It’s the very thing that makes you feel alive, that feels wondrous, full of light and energy. In religion and spirituality I think people are all trying to get at the same thing, they are trying to achieve and understand the same feeling.” [...]